Engineering Development

Private Gifts, Both Large and Small, Can Make a World of Difference

The Engineering Development team includes (front row, left to right) Pat Sullivan, Kristin Germain, Paul Bauman, Mary Musilek, (back row, left to right) Nancy Ollanik, Terry Mayes and Heidi Dormody.

by Paul Bauman, Director

When we talk about private support in the College of Engineering and Applied Science, we generally think of three groups: alumni, industry, and friends.

The college has a long history of generosity from its alumni, dating back to the early 1900s when the college was in its infancy. Alumni form the backbone of private support and provide ongoing testimony that the college is producing outstanding graduates.

Industry groups, including corporations and foundations, comprise a growing source of support. Corporations and foundations such as BP/Amoco and others are now supporting the college at record levels. BP announced a $10.6 million gift last fall to create the BP Center for Visualization. Located within the Departments of Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science, the new center features state-of-the-art immersive visualization technology for a variety of applications. This is the largest corporate gift in the history of the University of Colorado system, and we are very proud that this investment is directed toward the College of Engineering and Applied Science. This edition of CUEngineering includes other representative stories of on-going corporate partnerships that are enhancing our education and research mission in diverse ways. Reflecting this trend, the development team has a new director of corporate and foundation relations, Pat Sullivan, who is managing these relationships. More

Enid Ablowitz Joins Coleman Institute

Enid Ablowitz

Assistant Dean for Advancement and former engineering development director Enid Ablowitz is beginning a new phase of her career as she joins the CU Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities as vice president for advancement.

One of the key individuals who worked with the Colemans in establishing the institute and other technology initiatives in the College of Engineering and Applied Science, Ablowitz will bring 12 years experience in fund-raising and organizational advancement to the four-campus organization.

She joined the college as development director in 1989 and helped to launch the award-winning Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory before being "loaned" to the President's Office for a six-month assignment in 1997. Since then, she has served as assistant dean for advancement, helping the college to develop the program plan and build support for the Discovery Learning Center and other projects.

"Enid has been a crucial member of the academic, development, and advancement team of the college," says Dean Ross Corotis. "Her expertise, devotion, and enthusiasm have enabled the tremendous steps the college has taken, and we look forward to coordinating with her in her new role."